On April 14, 2014, Stefan Streeter, MDT District Administrator requested the Policy Coordinating Committee to consider taking action on the 6th Avenue and Bench Boulevard intersection project, also referred to as the Bench Connector, Phase 2.  This project was originally conceived to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow at this intersection.  Improvements to the Bench Connector, Phase 1 were the primary reasons for analyzing intersection treatments at the 6th Avenue, Main Street and Bench Boulevard intersection.  Based on a study prepared by Sanderson Stewart (attached), the options recommended for this project are: 1) do nothing and reassess the options after the Billings Bypass is operating, or 2) pursue the flyover intersection design as a long-term project.

The City Council is requested to forward a recommended option to the Policy Coordinating Committee with regard to the Bench Connector, Phase 2 intersection project. The options recommended by Sanderson Stewart are:
1. Do nothing and reassess the options after the Billings Bypass is operating, or
2. Pursue the flyover intersection design as a long-term project.

The City Council also has the option of modifying the recommended option or forwarding a new option.

The study prepared by Sanderson Stewart did not provide any cost estimates for the Bench Connector, Phase 2.  Until the Billings Bypass is funded, there are no other federal transportation funds available for long-range projects.  The projects that will be included in the 2014 Transportation Plan must be fiscally constrained.  At this point, given the proposed project list, it is unlikely that this project would be fiscally constrained.

In 2012, the Montana Department of Transportation hired Sanderson Stewart to determine if any design improvements should be considered for the intersection at 6th Avenue, Main Street and Bench Boulevard.  The project included evaluating existing and future traffic conditions at this intersection.  The study considered the traffic congestion with and without the Billings Bypass in 20 years.  It was determined that traffic would increase as follows:

In 20 years, Main Street- 4th Ave to Airport Rd In 20 years, Main Street- 1st Ave to 4th Ave ADT In 20 years, Bench Blvd (along MetraPark) In 20 years, right-turn PM peak hr volume from US87 onto Main Street
The design alternatives developed by Sanderson Stewart included:
1. No-build – this option would perpetuate existing conditions.
2. Roundabout –construct a multilane roundabout
3. Combine 4th Avenue and 6th Avenue –join 4th Avenue to 6th Avenue and Bench Blvd.
4. Signalized Intersection Improved – construct improvements to the existing intersection
5. Overpass – extend Bench Blvd over Main Street with or without ramps onto 6th Ave and Main St.
6. Underpass - underpass w/ 1-lane off-ramp to Main & 1-lane off-ramp to Bench
7. 4th Avenue Flyover – connect 4th Avenue to Main Street via a flyover. and 4th Ave to Bench Blvd via a one-lane structure

The study concluded that once the Billings Bypass is operational, traffic volumes would drop quickly on Main Street.  Existing congestion would continue as is until the Bypass is constructed.  These findings suggest that the Bench Connector, Phase 2 is not needed at this time.  The study also concluded that the flyover concept had future merit, particularly because it would help reduce emissions.  Sanderson Stewart recommended two options: 1) do nothing and reassess the options after the Bypass is operating; or 2) pursue the fly-over intersection design as a long-term solution to future congestion.
Staff is requesting the City Council make a recommendation to the Policy Coordinating Committee on whether to pursue Option 1 or Option 2.

The primary stakeholders are the traveling public, the citizens of the City of Billings and Yellowstone County and commercial vehicle operators.  By recommending an option to the Policy Coordinating Committee for the Bench Connector, Phase 2 project, the City Council is acknowledging the benefits and consequences of their recommendations to the stakeholders.

Bench Connector, Phase 2, was not listed as a project in the 2009 Billings Urban Area Long-Range Transportation Plan Update.  The 2014 Transportation Plan, which is currently being prepared, does not list the project either.   A draft project list has been circulated and input has been requested from the Project Oversight Committee and the public.  The Bench Connector, Phase 2 did not emerge as a potential long-range transportation project in the planning process.

Based on the study performed by Sanderson Stewart in 2012, the intersection at Bench, 6th Avenue, and Main Street will function at an improved level of service when the Billings Bypass is operating.  The level of service of the intersection at that time could be further improved with modifications to the intersection design; particularly the flyover option.  For those reasons, staff is recommending to the City Council to recommend to the Policy Coordinating Committee the option to do nothing but reassess the design options for the intersection once the Bypass is operating.  This option would provide more certainty as to the effect of modifying the intersection design.  It would also provide the opportunity to program federal transportation funds toward an intersection project in the future.